SeaWorld, which has not placed trainers in the water during shows featuring killer whales since the 2010 death of Dawn Brancheau in front of stunned spectators in Orlando, Florida, is ready to start allowing contact again. There’s only one thing standing in the way: In May, Administrative Law Judge Kenneth Welsch ruled in favor of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), barring physical contact between animals and their trainers. SeaWorld, which is owned by private equity firm Blackstone Group and operates parks in San Antonio and San Diego in addition to Orlando, appealed that ruling on Friday. “We have added numerous safety measures to our already industry-leading killer whale program,” the company said in a . “It should be noted that physical contact and in-water interaction with these animals is a critical component of both husbandry and trainer safety.”
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